Head of family is the ultimate decider in selection and installation of a chief in Ga-dangme - Edward Nortey Noi writes

The Ga-dangme is an ethnic group in Ghana and they are mostly found around the southern part of Ghana especially along the coaster line.

They are also a diverse group encompassing various ethnic subgroups who share a common cultural and linguistic heritage.

The modern Ga-dangme ethnic groups comprises of Ada, Ningo, Prampram, Tema, Nungua, Teshie, La, Osu, Ga-Mashie and the Shai people etc.

The Ga-dangme ethnic group inherits through the patrilineal line of inheritance which is basically through the father’s line, and this is the basic requirement considered for the selection and installation of any traditional position of our land.

Every family on the Ga-dangme has a head of family who is in charge of the day to day activities of the family be it during the selection and installation of any traditional position and also administer family lands.

The head of family does not have a sole authority to make decisions for the family but he does that in consultation with the Council of Elders.

Typical of Ga Dangbe Chieftaincy customs and traditions, when the Stool becomes vacant, the Head of Family of the House whose turn it is, nominates someone for the consideration of the Dzaase, the only accredited and authorized body with the mandate to install a Mantse (Chief).

The role of the Head of Family is so central that he is insulated from any encumbrances from any traditional authority in the discharge of this scared duty of nomination, which is usually done in consultation with other elders of the House, and through thorough screening and interview of shortlisted royals.

Thus, the Head of Family is mandated to operate in an independent capacity, and to avoid any potential conflict of interest, he cannot be a traditional ruler. 

In the established traditional structures of Ga-dangme, no traditional leader has a mandate to select and install a Mantse (Chief) because they are not from that house (family) and have no legal authority to select and install a Chief without the head of family's involvement.  

Indeed, in Ga-dangme customs and traditions, there are clear lines of separation of power between the Head of Family and Traditional Rulers, and the influence of the Head of Family cannot be toyed with or disregarded.

That is why even in the case of family lands, the authority is vested in the Head of Family, with traditional rulers having no power whatsoever in administering family lands.

The traditional rulers such as the Mantse (Chief) are rather vested with authority over stool lands 

In recent times, the Ga-dangme ethnic group have been experiencing some negativities during the selection and installation of traditional rulers because some unscrupulous or self-acclaimed traditional title holders have arrogated some form of power to themselves to cause confusion and disturbances.

My advice to those creating confusions is to desist from doing so because we already have structures established by our ancestors and no person can arrogate powers to himself when it comes to the selection and installation of a traditional position.

You cannot be a traditional title holder and at the same time a head of family to select and install a traditional ruler. 

The right to select is reserved for the Head of Family in consultation with the Council of Elders of that house.   

The writer is the Head of Family, Owuo We Royal House, Osu Amantra